H-beam pile cutter and combination with h-beam pile



March 10, 1964 =F. L. PRUYN 3,123,978

H-BEAM PILE CUTTER AND COMBINATION WITH H-BEAM PILE Filed Jan. 14. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hill IN V EN TOR.

'llh/@Mm HTTORNEY March 10, 1964 I F. L.. PRUYN H'BEAM PILE CUTTER AND COMBINATION WITH H-BEAM PILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1960 FRFlNc/s L. PRY/v INVENTUR.

HTTORNEY United States The invention relates to a pile cutter or driving point comprising a reinforcing and attaching coupling having a blade which cutter may be attached or secured to the lower end of an H-beam pile or pile section so that the blade takes the abuse, such as striking rock, which otherwise would be carried by the lower end of an H-beam pile. The blade has an upperV end corresponding in form and dimensions with the end of an H-beam pile. It may be a short length of H-bearn which may be generally pointed solely, so that no special shape of blade need be manufactured. With a blade corresponding with the H-beam pile when the cutter is assembled or secured to a pile, the upper end of the blade and the lower end of the H-beam pile are in abutitng relation. Furthermore the cutter is one which can be easily assembled and secured on the job to the end of an H pile. The invention also relates to the combination of the cutter and an H-bearn pile.

This is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 837,671 led September 2, 1959 and now abandoned.

The principal object of the invention is to construct an H-beam pile cutter of a blade and coupling means in which the end of the cutter blade has a form and dimension to abut the entire end area of an H-beam pile.

Another object of the invention is to construct an H-beam pile cutter which is inexpensive to manufacture and easily attached, on the job, to an H-beam pile.

A still further object is to construct a combination of an H-beam pile and a cutter secured at the end thereof which cutter has a blade with an end corresponding with the end of H-beam so that it abuts the end of the H-beam pile and the blade and the attachment of the blade to the H-beam pile is reinforced with a coupling means.

Another object is to construct a cutter or point for H-beam piles which is a cast integral point having a blade having an abutting end which corresponds in shape and dimension or approximate shape and dimension with the H-beam pile to which it is to be attached and used and carrying coupling means.

Another object is to provide an H-beam pile cutter with coupling plates or channels which lie wholly within the channels of the H-beam pile and at least the outer flange surfaces of the pile when driven are in direct contact with the earth.

Another object of the invention is to construct an H-beam pile cutter using a short length of an H-beam pile for the blade and a coupling means secured to the blade to reinforce the blade and reinforce the attachment of the blade to an H-beam pile.

Another object is to construct an H-beam pile cutter having a coupling of spaced plates and spacer means for spacing the plates and securing them together serves as a locating means between the coupling and blade when securing the parts together.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the cutter;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the cutter of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of the blade;

atent O ICC FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the H-beam pile and the cutter;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of another form of spacer or connector for the coupling means;

FIG. 7 is a front View of a cast one piece cutter or point;

FIG. 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the cutter or point of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective View of a cutter having coupling plates for the exterior flange surfaces solely; and

FIG. 11 is a simple form of H-beam pile cutter;

FIG. 12 is a form of pile cutter having inner flange coupling plates solely.

The H-beam pile cutter or point in the form shown in FIGS. l-6, has a blade 10 the upper or abutting end of which corresponds or approximately corresponds in shape and dimensions with the end of the H-beam pile to which it will be attached. The blade or the end edge thereof may be hardened if desired to resist abrasion and the abuse to which the end of an H-beam pile is exposed when being driven into the ground. The blade in one form may be made merely by cutting a short length, such as a six inch long piece, of an H-beam pile. Preferably the lower edges of the anges are angularly cut away downwardly towards the web such as at 11 to form a generally pointed lower or bottom edge or end 13 to the blade. The upper end or edge 9 of the blade is iiat surfaced and carries slot means, shown as a single slot 12, extending downwardly therefrom and preferably in the web of the blade.

Coupling means are secured to the blade 10 to couple the blade to the H-beam and to reinforce the mounting of the blade on the H-beam. The coupling means is attached to the blade and projects above the upper end of the blade. The coupling means particularly shown includes basically a pair of spaced plates 15 and 16 which are secured to the blade at least in engagement with the Web of the blade. Preferably the coupling plates are secured together by suitable spacer means such as a spacer shown a key or bar 17 for each slot in the blade which is passed through holes 19 in the plates and welded thereto while the plates are held in spaced relation. The plates are spaced a distance to receive the web of the blade and also the web of an H-beam pile therebetween either as a slip t or as a drive it. The spacer has a width or vertical dimension to be received in the slot 12 and a length not greater than the length of the slot and preferably the same length as the slot. The spacer means is located so that when it bottoms in the slot, the lower edge 13 of the plates is properly located with respect to the lower edge 13 of the blade. The preferred location is to have the lower edge 18 spaced above the blade edge 13. Each plate is welded to the blade at least at the bottom and it is desirable to Weld at all exposed and adjacent edges in order to secure good anchorage of the coupling means or plates to the blade.

The cutter described is slipped or driven on the end portion of an H-beam pile 22 and best practice is to weld all exposed adjacent edges of the coupling means to the adjacent surfaces of the pile such as the top edges or ends of each coupling plate with the web 23 of the pile and the vertical edges of the coupling means which lie over or contact with surfaces of the pile. In addition the abutting top end or edge 9 of the blade 10 and the lower end of the H-beam pile 22 are welded together wherever exposed. The outer edges or surfaces of the abutting anges and at least some portion of the inner edges of the flanges are so exposed. In the construction illustrated a substantial portion of the inner edges of the flanges of the blade and pile are exposed by the coupling means. The blade is reinforced therefore by the coupling and its attachment with the end of the H-beam is also reinforced by the coupling or coupling plates.

An even stronger attachment and reinforcement is secured if the coupling plates and 16 are channels, as particularly illustrated, each of which fits into one of the channels of the blade 10 and also tits into the channels of the H-beam pile with the flanges in contact and the webs in contact. The flanges of the coupling channels are shaped or have ears 14 to conform with the flanges of the blade but are vertically shorter or smaller so that the inclined or angular surfaces are spaced upwardly from the angular blade edges 11 and each of the upper flange edges 26 of the coupling channel plate is below the upper end or edge 9 of the blade. The spacer or key 17 bottoming in the slot 12, fixes the proper position of the coupling channel flanges or ears with respect to the blade. This relative position of the blade and coupling plates and relative size of the flanges of the blade and of the flanges of the coupling channel plates provide ample edges to weld the flanges of the coupling means to the flanges of the blade and also leaves exposed a substantial part of the inner abutting edges of the H-beam pile and the upper end or edge of the blade flanges for direct welding of the flanges of the blade with the flanges of the pile. The coupling plates or channels may be, and it is advisable that they be, Welded to the blade at adjacent exposed side edges 27. The coupling channels have a narrower flange extending above the upper edge 26 of the ears and providing vertical edges 28.

This cutter is slipped or forced on the end of an H-beam pile at the job and is secured thereto such as by welding at all or most of the adjacent exposed edges between the coupling channels and the H-beam. These edges are the vertical edges 26 and the top edges 29 of both web and flange of each coupling channel. Also the exposed edges of the abutting ends 9 of the flanges of the blade and the flanges of the lower end of the H-beam are welded together.

If additional attachment should be deemed advisable between the coupling means and the H-beam pile this can be accomplished such as by providing one or more holes 30 through the coupling means and the H-beam pile to receive a rod 31 which is then welded to the coupling means. If desired rivets or bolts may be used instead.

The cutters may be made for any size of H-beam pile. If a short section of the H-beam pile is used for a blade, the coupling plates or channels are used to fit within the channel of the H-beam. The coupling plates do not objectionally affect the resistance to driving the H-beam pile into the ground since the welding produces a fillet or bead and reduces substantially any flat lower edges presented to the soil. Also with the coupling plates or channels within the channels of the H-beam pile at least the outer faces of the pile flanges are in direct contact with earth to support the pile. The coupling plates extend a substantial distance above the upper end of the blade so that ample extent of adjacent coupling plate edges and contacting surfaces of the H-beam are provided to secure adequate welding attachment of the plates with the H-beam pile and to adequately support the blade.

FIG. 6 shows another form of spacing and locating means for the coupling means. Holes 35 are punched through each plate and spacer or key 36 having holes therethrough and rivets, bolts or rods 37 are passed through the holes. The rod is welded to the coupling means and the rivets or bolts may also be welded. This key or spacer has a thickness to space the plates apart a distance the same as the web of the blade and H-beam or slightly less. The spacer and key has a vertical dimension not greater than the slot 12 in the blade and preferably of the same dimension. The spacer is located so that when it bottoms in the slot, the edges 25 and 26 are properly located with respect to the bottom and top blade edges above and below the blade edges respectively as previously described.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a one piece cutter or point for H- beam pile which is essentially similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6 but is cast in one piece such as of cast steel. The steel may be of any hardness or carbon content to provide abrasion resistance and strength. The blade 40 has a web and flanges 41 so that the abutting end of the blade conforms in cross section or shape and dimension or approximate dimension with that of the H- beam pile to which the cutter is to be applied. The lower end or edge of the H-beam pile and the upper end or edge 42 of the blade are in direct abutting relation at least at the web and may be in direct or adjacent abutting relation with the upper edge 43 of the flanges when assembled together. The upper edge of the web 42 of the blade is shown as slightly higher say Mz of an inch than the flange edges in order to assure that the web of the H-beam pile contacts the Web of the blade.

The cutter or point has coupling means for coupling the cutter to an H-beam pile. The coupling means may be a pair of spaced coupling plates 46 carried by the blade and integral therewith and extending substantially above the upper end of the blade for example corresponding to the length of the blade. Since the cutter is a one piece casting, the coupling plates extend below the upper edge of the blade in effect and are integral with the web of the blade and provide additional metal to reinforce the later. The space or slot 47 between the plates is such that the web of the H-beam is received therebetween and preferably is slightly narrower than the web of the H- beam pile so that a drive fit is secured. The web or sides 48 of the blade or integral coupling plates taper gradually from the lower edge 49 to the outer surface of its coupling plate so that minimum resistance is afforded in driving the cutter through the soil. The bottom edge 31 may have any width desired and the width shown approximately corresponds with that of the web of the H- beam pile.

With the blade corresponding in form and dimensions with the H-beam pile 52 to be attached thereto, the upper surfaces of the blade correspond in dimension and H- shaped form with the end of the H-beam pile. The upper or abutting edges of the flange of the blade may be and preferably are welded to the end of the H-beam pile on the job at all exposed flange edges'. If the flanges are not in direct abutting relation it is particularly advantageous to weld the flanges together. It has been mantioned that the upper edge 42 of the web of the blade which is the same as the bottom of the recess 47 is about l; inch above the blade flange edges. Without more this provides also a welding cavity. It is desirable that the upper edge 43 of the flanges of the blade be tapered or inclined outwardly for example at 30 degrees so that a cavity is provided between the end or edge of the flanges of the H-beam pile when the cutter or point is assembled thereon and the flanges of the blade for a more effective weld therebetween. Such inclination is desirable in addition to the cavity provided by the spaced edges of web and flange. The welding metal fills up the cavity and places the flanges in abutting welded Contact.

The coupling means may be flange plates 54 which would expose the abutting web edge of the blade and the pile for welding. Preferably the coupling means includes the flange plates integral with the coupling plates 46 so that the coupling plates and flange plates form a channel which fits within the channel of each H-beam pile. These flange plates or coupling flanges are integral 'with the plates 46 along their vertical edges or corners and also project below the upper edge or end 43 of the blade and are integral with the flanges 41 of the blade. The lower ends of the coupling flanges in being integral therewith, reinforce the upper portion of the flanges of the blade but may stop short of the bottom edge of the flanges. Preferably the coupling flanges where integral with the blade have a taper surface 55 on their inner faces which minimizes resistance to the cutter when being driven through the soil. All or at least some of the exposed edges of the flanges 54 and the plates 46 may be welded to the adjacent flanges and webs respectively of the H- beam in order to secure a firm attachment of the cutter or point to the H-beam.

The coupling plates 46 may carry one lor .more holes 56 in order to provide additional edges for welding between the plates and the H-beam for firmer attachment of the coupling plates to the web of the H-beam. The web of the H-beam pile may have a hole punched or cut through the web in alignment with each hole 56 and receive a rivet or bolt therein or a rod 57 which is welded to the coupling means. Any rivets or bolts used also may be Welded to the coupling means. In both forms of points, the longer the coupling means extends above the upper end of the blade increases the length of available edges which can be Welded to the H-beam and hence the strength of the weld. However since the blade and end of the H-beam are in abutting relation there is not too great a strain upon this weld. The coupling means also keeps the blade in alignment with the H-beam so that the coupling means should overlap the H-beam suiiiciently to achieve this purpose adequately. A minimum of about six inches or a length corresponding with the blade length should be adequate however there is considerable latitude as to its length.

The coupling means are plates or channels having a thickness about the same as the thickness of the H-beam or somewhat less so that the earth is not too greatly displaced from the beam surfaces which give support to the beam and exclude air. The driving of the beam tends to shake the earth back into contact with the inner surfaces of the beam thereby giving support and closing out air which penetrating and corroding the metal. With the construction described, the cutter is supplied unattached and is easily attached on the job which means that pile sections can be supplied in rando-m lengths and as piles are driven and the depth of bed rock determined, selection of -a proper length -of beam may be made. This avoids the lneed of supplying maximum length piles and then cutting oif the projecting end when bed rock is struck resulting in waste or supplying shorter piles and 'welding or splicing an additional length thereon which is an expensive operation.

FIG. l() shows another form of H-beam pile cutter or point which may be and shown as cast in one piece such as in cast steel to give a tough and resistant point. This point or cutter comprises a blade having a web 61 and iianges 62 and 63. The web and flanges correspond in thickness and form with the cross section of the H-beam pile to be used therewith. As a consequence, the web of the H-beam pille abuts the upper edge or surface 64 of the web 61 of the cutter and the upper edges 65 of the flanges of the cutter conform with the thickness and shape of the ends of the flanges ofthe H-beam pile. Preferably the upper edge 65 of the cutter ilanges are depressed slightly below the upper edge 64 of the web of the cuter. This assures that the web of the H-beam abuts the web of the cutter or point. In welding the flanges of the cutter with the flanges of the H-beam, the spacing between the end of the flanges of the H-beam and the surfaces 65 are filled with welding metal to yassure that the ends of the H-beam flanges abut with the upper edges 65 of the flanges of the cut-ter.

Coupling plates 68 and `69 are carried by the flanges of the blade and for a cast point they are cast integral therewith by the junction extending below the upper edges 65. These coupling plates extend above the upper edge 65 of the flanges and have a Width preferably corresponding with the width of the flanges of the H-beam. The end of the H-beam fits between the coupling plates so that the flanges of the cutter and H-beam are in abutting or apposite relation and the upper edge I64 of the web of the cutter is in abutting relation with the end of the flange of the H-beam pile. The cutter or point is then welded to the H-beam particularly at their abutting edges or ends. F-or a very secure connection, the cutter and H-beam pile are, in addition, -welded along the side edges of the coupling plates and the anges of the H-beam and along the upper edge of the coupling plates and the H-beam flanges. In the construction of FIG. l0, the inner or channel faces of the cutter and H-beam are in alignment so that the earth 4is not displaced a greater amount than that -of the channel of the H-beam pile to give good earth support for the pile.

FIG. lll shows a simple form of cutter or point which lis essentially similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 9 excepting that the overall Vertical dimension is substantially reduced and the flanges of the cutter extend to the side edge of the cuter. This cutter or point provides upper ange edges 72 and 73` which conform in dimension with the flanges -of the H-beam pile to be received thereon. Spaced coupling plates 74 and 75 are provided on each side of the web abutting edge 76 for the H-beam pile so that the web of the H-beam is received therebetween and the end of the :web of the H-beam abuts the upper edge 76. Flange coupling plates 77 and 78 also extend above the `abutting iiange edges 72 and 73 and each is shown as integral with its adjacent coupling plate 74 and 75 respectively. The edge surfaces 72, 73 and 76 conform in dimensions with the end of an H-bcam pile to be received thereby. (The coupling plates 74, 75, 77 and 78 are received within the channel of the H-beam pile. The point or cutter is welded to the H-beam -at least at the abutting edges of the anges and web. Preferably it is also 'welded at all adjacent edges between the H-beam pile and the coupling plates.

The coupling plates on all of the cutters or points illustrated are flat, relatively thin, in that there is no need for them to be thicker than the thickness of the blade web or flange to which it is attached and correspond in thickness therewith and they may be thinner. As a consequence in driving the cutter and pile into the earth these coupling plates do not materially displace the earth beyond the adjacent surfaces of the H-beam pile so that the earth, under the jarring of the impact in driving and earth pressures, restores the earth into contact with the H-beam pile surfaces after the coupling plates have passed. This assures amongst other things a good supporting contact between the earth and the pile. On those surfaces on which there are no coupling plates, the earth is always in contact with the surfaces of the pile.

The life and integrity of a steel pile is destroyed by corrosion. If oxygen cornes into contact with the steel, corrosion will occur. When a pile is driven into undisturbed earth it forms a perfect seal but where the density and texture of the earth is materially disturbed, air containing oxygen can filter in and attack the steel and corrosion would sooner or latter destroy the pile. The H-beam pile is particularly vulnerable to corrosion since it is exposed to the earth on both the inside and the outside of the H-beam. A trench is formed by the two flanges and the web of the H-beam on both sides of the pile which remains iilled with earth as the pile is driven. The retention in these two trenches in the pile with dense substantially undisturbed earth is essential to prevent infiltration of air and subsequent corrosion and this is dependent on the shape and dimensions of the cutting edge and coupling plates of the pile cutter. As the pile is driven the cutting edges slices out a section of earth that exactly fills the two trenches in the H-beam with dense impervious earth Whose texture has not been or has not been materially disturbed and the earth will therefore protect the inner surfaces of the pile from oxidation and ultimate failure. The open channels in the cutter or point herein are designed to conform to the cross section of the H-beam and the dense undisturbed earth flows through the point into the two trenches in the H-beam completely sealing olf oxygen from the metal.

As mentioned hereinbefore the coupling plates may be solely llange coupling plates as illustrated in FIG. 12. This cutter` preferably is cast as shown. The blade 81 has web and flanges in H form corresponding with the H- beam pile and the abutting web end or surface 82 and ilange surfaces 83 correspond with the end of the H-beam pile. Inner llange coupling plates 84 project along the flanges of the H-beam pile and have a web slot 85 to pass the web of the pile. The cutter is welded to the H-bearn pile preferably at all adjacent pile and cutter edges. In this form the coupling plates at the portions overlapping the blade have taper surfaces to reduce driving resistance and to reduce soil displacement or compacting when driving. This cutter in having a web of a thickness the same as the pile web does not displace the soil beyond or to a greater degree than that of the pile web.

This invention is presented to fill a need for improvements in the H-beam pile cutter and combination with H-beam pile. It is understood that various modilications in structure, as well as changes in mode of operation, assembly, and manner of use, may and often do occur to those skilled in the art, especially after benefiting from the teachings of an invention. This disclosure illustrates the preferred means of embodying the invention in useful form.

What is claimed is:

1. A point for a standard H-beam pile comprising a hardened blade portion having a section corresponding to that of the abutting end of said pile and a pair of channel-shaped coupling members xedly attached to and extending upwardly from the channel portion of said point and arranged to socketly receive the web of said pile therebetween, the bottom of said point having a tapered edge to facilitate the driving of said point, said coupling when said point is fitted to said pile being arranged to lie wholly within the channel portion of said pile and point to provide reinforcement for both said web and at least a part of the lange portion of said pile, whereby the outer faces of the flanges of the point are in the same plane as the outer faces of the llanges of said pile so that when in operative position the outer faces of the flanges of point and pile present a continuous surface to contact the earth as the pile is driven.

2. A point for an H-beam pile according to claim l in which said coupling extends in overlapping relationship to said web of the pile a length at least as great as the length of the blade portion.

3. A point for an H-beam pile according to claim 1 in which the flanges of the blade portion are cut at an angle towards the lower end of the web of the blade.

4. A point according to claim 2 in which at least one of said plates of the coupling has an opening therein for welding the plate to the web of a socketcd pile.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,858,918 de Vou May 17, 1932 1,884,686 Hilpert Oct. 25, 1932 1,902,397 Doyle Mar. 21, 1933 2,673,453 Templeton Mar. 30, 1954 2,708,828 Pruyn May 24, 1955 2,874,547 Fiore et tal. Feb. 24, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,648 Netherlands Dec. 12, 1920 

1. A POINT FOR A STANDARD H-BEAM PILE COMPRISING A HARDENED BLADE PORTION HAVING A SECTION CORRESPONDING TO THAT OF THE ABUTTING END OF SAID PILE AND A PAIR OF CHANNEL-SHAPED COUPLING MEMBERS FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE CHANNEL PORTION OF SAID POINT AND ARRANGED TO SOCKETLY RECEIVE THE WEB OF SAID PILE THEREBETWEEN, THE BOTTOM OF SAID POINT HAVING A TAPARED EDGES TO FACILITATE THE DRIVING OF SAID POINT, SAID COUPLING WHEN SAID POINT IS FITTED TO SAID PILE BEING ARRANGED TO LIE WHOLLY WITHIN THE CHANNEL PORTION OF SAID PILE AND POINT TO PROVIDE REINFORCEMENT FOR BOTH SAID WEB AND AT LEAST A PART OF THE FLANGE PORTION OF SAID PILE, WHEREBY THE OUTER FACES OF THE FLANGES OF THE POINT ARE IN THE SAME PLANE AS THE OUTER FACES OF THE FLANGES OF SAID PILE SO THAT WHEN IN OPERATIVE POSITION THE OUTER FACES OF THE FLANGES OF POINT AND PILE PRESENT A CONTINUOUS SURFACE TO CONTACT THE EARTH AS THE PILE IS DRIVEN. 